People driving high are likely to have previous involvement in serious, sometimes violent crime.

Over the past year Essex Police has worked to tackle the growing numbers of drug drivers in the county.

In January 163 people were arrested on suspicion of drug driving - a record number for a single month and up 17 percent on the previous highest of 139 from December 2018.

In total 1039 were arrested last year, 285 more than 2017.

The force carried out analysis on those arrested and found a large number were repeat offenders.

Adam Pipe, head of roads policing, said: “Last year we carried out a study of a sample of 231 people arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

“More than half of those arrested had been arrested before, and around a quarter had been arrested in connection with serious crimes including those linked to violence.

“This makes our work to tackle drug drivers even more important. It’s not just making our roads safer, but it’s helping to tackle and disrupt all sorts of other forms of crime.”

Mr Pipe also commented on the sheer number of people arrest.

He added: "It is a staggering number and follows a trend we’ve been seeing throughout the last 12 months.

“In November last year drug driving arrests outstripped drink driving arrests in Essex for the first time ever.

“Last month we’ve seen 50 percent more drug driving arrests than drink driving arrests and the highest number of drug driving arrests in Essex ever.”